Build over Agreement with Thames Water

[Newhome321]

Hi all, we are at the final stage of buying our home, an upper fixer which has Thames Water public sewer runs along the border of the property between the house and the neighbor. As we plan for an extension, does it mean a “No”. Could it be possible that Thames Water say no extension is allowed on that part of land and hence no build could be carried out. Appreciated for any insights, info please.

Thames water have lots of info on their website. You need to check with the neighbour, any desire to move a sewer on the boundary will need their agreement.

Thanks so much Rollercoaster, will do so. There has been so much ups and downs with this purchase and if we couldnt do the extension then we might not go ahead with the purchase. Would it be needed to hire a surveyor at this point and if they could tell if extension is likely?

They could say no. They could give you lots of stipulated conditions, they could say it's fine. It's worth asking now as nobody will have the answer. Just a side not I only know 1 person with a build over agreement that wasn't straight forward, and they had to agree to build in access to a shared sewer manhole in to their plans. This means that they could be asked to provide access through their utility room floor. So far ( years later) it's not been required. But it would put me off.

have you had a survey already? get a full survey and get the surveyor to comment specifically on this issue.

We've done two buildover agreements with Thames Water. Get a couple of ground workers/builders out to have a look, they will give you a better idea of whats achievable than anyone else - including architects in my experience!

Pretty much anything is doable it will just be the cost.

I am so confused and still checking with solicitor, surveyor as we are in the yello and next to the public manhole and NOT the sewer so what is the implication is we build an extension on top of this public man hole. Thanks so much.

You can't build an extension on top of a manhole, it would need to be moved. You could potentially get a build over agreement for a pipe but absolutely not for a manhole.

It looks like a shared sewer with just next door, sited on the boundary line. So ideally you'd want the manhole moved outside the proposed extension footprint, with individual feeds from each house to that new manhole.

To move it will need Thames water and the neighbouring house agreement. I'd knock on the door and say you are considering buying next door and would like to extend which will require moving the manhole. The neighbour maybe delighted, or may not.

If they refuse to move the manhole then your extension plans are scuppered. So knock on the door and talk to them before exchanging contracts if it is a deal breaker.

Thanks so much CoxwellHuge and Rollercoaster. Indeed, this is a deal breaker for us especially the house cant be built upward and could only be extended on the side/rear.

Oh just checked with friend about her extension, they bought it already done. And it turns out it was done without permission. They were only allowed to keep it as they agreed to provide access if needed. So in short it looks like a no go for building over an inspection chamber owned by water company.

So we could only build an extension if its accessible or having it moved, both need to be agreed with the neighbor and Thames water?

I assume that the red is the public sewer?

What is the black, green and blue lines?

The green is the storm sewer which goes to the river.

The EA advised against us going to the neighbor, the said we should only go to them when we apply for planning permission and needs party walls agreement. I checked the neighbors’ houses, in total there are 6 houses in the whole street has the problem with sewers and none of them has double storey on the rear/side done while many other houses do. So despaired. We are so near, after the last 8 months. But if we couldnt extend then it doesnt justify for buying it. We likely have spent £4k on solicitors and other fees on both of selling our house and buying this new one and plan to exchange this week.

Spoke to Thames water and they said it can always be moved? Anyone has moved a public manhole please could you share.

As Thames water say, it can always be moved (if it's soley on your land), it's just the cost. Are you sure your neighbour's right to light won't be affected by a 2 storey extension?
Our neighbours spoke to us about their plans before they bought next door and once they moved in we both did a joint extension. It saved us both £££s, as we shared the cost of building the wall/foundations between our properties. We had to move a manhole too!

If it only serves your house and next door and the manhole is completely on your land, it shouldn't be a problem.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/3324450-Neighbour-not-giving-consent-to-move-manhole#prettyPhoto

Thanks so much. Your valuable advices abd references are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately the property is not entitled to any right of light or air. Some neighbors have had a double storey built on the street though. Potentially because they have had the manholes removed or didnt have this problem at all. The relationship to the neighbor is crucial though. If we fail to get them approved then could we sue or anything we could do? Thanks so much in advance.

The estate agent advised against you going to the neighbour? You do realise they work for the seller, not you?

Go and talk to the neighbour! If they refuse then walk away.

Yes Rollercoaster, it does look like the only way because even if the architecture says yes, the neighbor says No then it wont be happening. Looks like I will be losing my sleep tonight. X

Is the inspection cover actually on the boundary line (half on their property and half on yours) or is it entirely inside your property boundary? If it's inside, can you take a few photos and show us, with the cover both on and off?

Definitely go talk to the neighbour. You’re potentially living next to them so great to find out what they are like and how they would respond to your building plans in advance.

Hi Didyousay: its just right in between half and half.
Thanks Littlejala: so worried that it would ruin it all especially we plan for it a forever home. I have a great relationship with all of my current neighbors that we keep each others key, feed the fish, empty bins etc. however also heard when things dont go right especially we do have a plan for so much work going ahead.
We have a “family meeting” tonight and decided to go ahead with the move with whatever the outcome of the extension plan is. The worst case we will have to reduce our plan and extend more to the back instead. I think everyone is so fed up with the probability of moving or not moving the last 8 months so just want to move on.